U.S. patent number 11,292,536 [Application Number 16/970,401] was granted by the patent office on 2022-04-05 for trailer fairing and system for improved aerodynamic performance.
This patent grant is currently assigned to COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN. The grantee listed for this patent is Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin. Invention is credited to Calvin Rhett Bradley, Justin Kane Morgan.
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United States Patent |
11,292,536 |
Bradley , et al. |
April 5, 2022 |
Trailer fairing and system for improved aerodynamic performance
Abstract
An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing
configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a
location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the
trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral
direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is also present
and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the
trailer. The top fairing engages the side fairing.
Inventors: |
Bradley; Calvin Rhett
(Greenville, SC), Morgan; Justin Kane (Anderson, SC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin |
Clermont-Ferrand |
N/A |
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES
ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN (Clermont-Ferrand, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
61692095 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/970,401 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2019 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 01, 2019 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US2019/020352 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 17, 2020 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2019/169300 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 06, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210380176 A1 |
Dec 9, 2021 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/US2018/020698 |
Mar 2, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
35/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
35/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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WO |
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Other References
European Patent Office; International Search Report and Written
Opinion for patent application PCT/US2019/020352, filed Mar. 1,
2019; Publisher: European Patent Office, Rijswijk, Netherlands;
dated May 28, 2019; pp. 1-20, enclosed. cited by applicant .
European Patent Office; International Search Report and Written
Opinion for patent application PCT/US2018/020698, filed Mar. 2,
2018; Publisher: European Patent Office, Rijswijk, Netherlands;
dated Oct. 31, 2018, pp. 1-16, enclosed. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Lyjak; Lori L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pierotti; Neal P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for a trailer, comprising: a top fairing configured
for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location
closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the trailer,
wherein the top fairing has a height that extends from the top
surface of the trailer to an upper terminal point of the top
fairing in the vertical direction, wherein the trailer has a
longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical
direction; a first side fairing configured for being mounted to a
first side surface of the trailer, wherein the top fairing engages
the first side fairing, wherein the first side fairing has a width
that extends from the first side surface of the trailer to an outer
terminal point of the first side fairing in the lateral direction,
wherein a magnitude of the height of the top fairing is greater
than a magnitude of the width of the first side fairing; a second
side fairing configured for being mounted to a second side surface
of the trailer; a first trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the first trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the first side surface of the trailer extends in
the longitudinal direction and the first trailer skirt is oriented
at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal to 20
degrees to the first side surface of the trailer in the direction
of extension of the first trailer skirt forward in the longitudinal
direction; and a second trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the second trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the second side surface of the trailer extends
in the longitudinal direction and the second trailer skirt is
oriented at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal
to 20 degrees to the second side surface of the trailer in the
direction of extension of the second trailer skirt forward in the
longitudinal direction; wherein a corner with an outer surface is
present at the engagement between the top fairing and the first
side fairing, wherein the corner is rounded and has a middle
section located between a leading section and a tailing section in
the longitudinal direction; wherein the leading section, the middle
section, and the tailing section are all rounded and wherein the
middle section has a radius of curvature that is larger than a
radius of curvature of the leading section, and wherein the middle
section has a radius of curvature that is larger than a radius of
curvature of the tailing section; wherein the corner has an inner
surface that is located opposite to the outer surface of the
corner, wherein the corner has an air blocking tab that extends
from the inner surface and is configured for being disposed within
a channel of the trailer.
2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top fairing
engages the second side fairing.
3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air blocking
tab has a length in the longitudinal direction that is less than a
length of the corner in the longitudinal direction, wherein the air
blocking tab extends farther inboard in the lateral direction than
any other portion of the corner, and further comprising a
structural support tab that engages the air blocking tab and the
inner surface of the corner.
4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first trailer
skirt and the second trailer skirt are configured to be located in
the longitudinal direction between a bogie assembly of the trailer
and drive tires of a tractor hooked to the trailer.
5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angle of the
first trailer skirt to the first side surface of the trailer is
measured by taking a first line from a rearward most point of the
first trailer skirt in the longitudinal direction to a forward most
point of the first trailer skirt in the longitudinal direction; and
wherein the angle of the second trailer skirt to the second side
surface of the trailer is measured by taking a second line from a
rearward most point of the second trailer skirt in the longitudinal
direction to a forward most point of the second trailer skirt in
the longitudinal direction.
6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first trailer
skirt is configured to be oriented relative to the trailer such
that the first trailer skirt extends constantly inboard in the
lateral direction upon extension from the rearward most point of
the first trailer skirt in the longitudinal direction to the
forward most point of the first trailer skirt in the longitudinal
direction; and wherein the second trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented relative to the trailer such that the second trailer skirt
extends constantly inboard in the lateral direction upon extension
from the rearward most point of the second trailer skirt in the
longitudinal direction to the forward most point of the second
trailer skirt in the longitudinal direction.
7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second side
fairing has a width that extends from the second side surface of
the trailer to an outer terminal point of the second side fairing
in the lateral direction; and wherein the magnitude of the height
of the top fairing is greater than a magnitude of the width of the
second side fairing.
8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the top fairing
engages an area of the top surface of the trailer that is not
located at the same vertical location across an entire width of the
area of the top surface in the lateral direction, wherein the
height of the top fairing that extends from the top surface of the
trailer to the upper terminal point of the top fairing in the
vertical direction is measured from the highest location of the
area of the top surface in the vertical direction.
9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first side
fairing engages an area of the first side surface of the trailer
that is not located at the same lateral location across an entire
height of the area of the first side surface in the vertical
direction, wherein the width of the first side fairing that extends
from the first side surface of the trailer to the outer terminal
point of the first side fairing in the lateral direction is
measured from the most outboard location of the area of the first
side surface in the lateral direction.
10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a
first trailer rear skirt located within 0.5 meters of a back end of
the trailer in the longitudinal direction; and a second trailer
rear skirt located within 0.5 meters of the back end of the trailer
in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first trailer rear skirt
is located closer to the first side surface of the trailer than the
second trailer rear skirt.
11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first
trailer rear skirt is parallel to the first side surface, and
wherein the second trailer rear skirt is parallel to the second
side surface.
12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top fairing
and the side fairing and any other parts of the apparatus if
present do not have any moving parts during use.
13. An apparatus for a trailer, comprising: a top fairing
configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a
location closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the
trailer, wherein the top fairing has a height that extends from the
top surface of the trailer to an upper terminal point of the top
fairing in the vertical direction, wherein the trailer has a
longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical
direction; a first side fairing configured for being mounted to a
first side surface of the trailer, wherein the top fairing engages
the first side fairing, wherein the first side fairing has a width
that extends from the first side surface of the trailer to an outer
terminal point of the first side fairing in the lateral direction,
wherein a magnitude of the height of the top fairing is greater
than a magnitude of the width of the first side fairing; a second
side fairing configured for being mounted to a second side surface
of the trailer; a first trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the first trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the first side surface of the trailer extends in
the longitudinal direction and the first trailer skirt is oriented
at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal to 20
degrees to the first side surface of the trailer in the direction
of extension of the first trailer skirt forward in the longitudinal
direction; and a second trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the second trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the second side surface of the trailer extends
in the longitudinal direction and the second trailer skirt is
oriented at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal
to 20 degrees to the second side surface of the trailer in the
direction of extension of the second trailer skirt forward in the
longitudinal direction; wherein a corner with an outer surface is
present at the engagement between the top fairing and the first
side fairing, wherein the corner is rounded and has a middle
section located between a leading section and a tailing section in
the longitudinal direction; wherein the leading section, the middle
section, and the tailing section are all rounded and wherein the
middle section has a radius of curvature that is larger than a
radius of curvature of the leading section, and wherein the middle
section has a radius of curvature that is larger than a radius of
curvature of the tailing section.
14. An apparatus for a trailer, comprising: a top fairing
configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a
location closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the
trailer, wherein the top fairing has a height that extends from the
top surface of the trailer to an upper terminal point of the top
fairing in the vertical direction, wherein the trailer has a
longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical
direction; a first side fairing configured for being mounted to a
first side surface of the trailer, wherein the top fairing engages
the first side fairing, wherein the first side fairing has a width
that extends from the first side surface of the trailer to an outer
terminal point of the first side fairing in the lateral direction,
wherein a magnitude of the height of the top fairing is greater
than a magnitude of the width of the first side fairing; a second
side fairing configured for being mounted to a second side surface
of the trailer; a first trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the first trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the first side surface of the trailer extends in
the longitudinal direction and the first trailer skirt is oriented
at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal to 20
degrees to the first side surface of the trailer in the direction
of extension of the first trailer skirt forward in the longitudinal
direction; and a second trailer skirt configured to be carried by
the trailer, wherein the second trailer skirt is configured to be
oriented such that the second side surface of the trailer extends
in the longitudinal direction and the second trailer skirt is
oriented at an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than or equal
to 20 degrees to the second side surface of the trailer in the
direction of extension of the second trailer skirt forward in the
longitudinal direction; wherein a corner with an outer surface is
present at the engagement between the top fairing and the first
side fairing, wherein the corner has an inner surface that is
located opposite to the outer surface of the corner, wherein the
corner has an air blocking tab that extends from the inner surface
and is configured for being disposed within a channel of the
trailer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 application of
PCT/US19/20352 filed on Mar. 1, 2019 and entitled "Trailer Fairing
and System for Improved Aerodynamic Performance." PCT/US19/20352
claims the benefit of PCT/US18/20698 filed on Mar. 2, 2018 and
entitled "Trailer Fairing and System for Improved Aerodynamic
Performance." PCT/US19/20352 and PCT/US18/20698 are both
incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for all
purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The subject matter of the present invention relates to an end of
trailer fairing and system that improves aerodynamic performance of
the trailer. More particularly, the present application involves an
end of trailer fairing that features a top fairing in contact with
a side fairing at the end of the trailer that enhances aerodynamic
performance. Additional components of the system include angled
trailer skirts, rear skirts, and rounded corners between the top
and side fairings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Trailers towed by trucks and similar apparatuses for transporting
cargo can be large, unwieldy, and include geometries which invite
inefficiencies during travel. One aspect of these inefficiencies
concerns the aerodynamics of the trailer. For maximum capacity, the
trailer is box shaped which is not the most aerodynamically
available option. Further, the rear door of the trailer is made in
a particular manner to facilitate loading and unloading, such as
utilizing a large opening, and the rear door may not have optimal
aerodynamic properties. In an effort to improve trailer
aerodynamics, trailers have been built, supplemented, or
retro-fitted with trailer skirts (or side skirts), devices affixed
to the underside which limit air circulating in the empty space
between the trailer's axles. By reducing the amount of airflow in
this space, drag caused by turbulence is reduced and permits the
trailer to be towed more efficiently, increasing the gas mileage
and performance of the vehicle and its cargo. Other ways of
improving aerodynamic performance of the trailer involves the
provision of fairings to the end of the trailer. The fairings
modify the airflow around or off of the end of the trailer to
reduce drag. It is known to produce fairings that have a curved
outer surface that extend from the leading edge of the fairing to
the tailing edge of the fairing. These curved fairings change the
airflow about the end of the trailer to reduce dragging force.
Although capable of reducing some dragging force at the end of the
trailer, additional fairing designs that can stabilize the airflow
wake structure behind the trailer are desirable. Still further, it
would be desirable to have an aerodynamic system that incorporates
a trailer end fairing for purposes of increasing the aerodynamic
performance of the trailer. As such, there remains room for
variation and improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including
the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the
art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to
the appended figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor hauling a trailer that includes
an apparatus with skirts parallel to sides of the trailer in
accordance with one exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a tractor hauling a trailer that has an
apparatus in accordance with another embodiment that features
angled skirts.
FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a tractor hauling a trailer that has an
apparatus in accordance with another embodiment that features
skirts with multiple angled sections.
FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a corner of an engaging top and
side fairing in accordance with another embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a back view of the apparatus mounted onto a trailer.
FIG. 9 is a back view of the apparatus mounted onto a trailer that
has top and side surfaces that are not even in height or width.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a trailer having a
channel with a corner having an air blocking tab disassembled from
the trailer.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the trailer and
the corner assembled with the air blocking tab in the channel.
FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the back of a second corner that
has an air blocking tab.
FIG. 13 is a front view of the second corner of FIG. 12.
The use of identical or similar reference numerals in different
figures denotes identical or similar features.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For
example, features illustrated or described as part of one
embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a
third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include
these and other modifications and variations.
The present invention provides for an apparatus 10 that achieves
aerodynamic performance of a trailer 12 when driven by a tractor
42. The apparatus includes a top fairing 14, a first side fairing
24, and an optional second side fairing 28 located at the back of
the trailer 12. The side fairings 24, 28 engage the top fairing 14
such that a gap is not present between them and a continuous
surface extends from the side fairings 24, 28 onto the top fairing
14. In other words, the top fairing 14 connects to both of the side
fairings 24, 28 to form a continuous surface at the back section of
the trailer 12. The apparatus 10 may optionally include first and
second trailer skirts 32, 36 in addition to the top fairing 14 and
side fairings 24, 28 to further enhance aerodynamic performance.
Yet further, the apparatus 10 can be equipped with one or more
trailer rear skirts 78, 82 to achieve airflow properties upon
normal use of the tractor 42 trailer 12. Additional features can be
incorporated into the system the apparatus 10 comprises as will be
discussed in order to achieve different aerodynamic properties of
the trailer 12.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tractor 42 with attached trailer 12 on the
ground 92. In normal use, the tractor 42 is driven forward in the
longitudinal direction 18 and aerodynamic features of the system
are designed to handle this forward motion. Cross flow of air will
be imparted onto the trailer 12 in the lateral direction 20 and the
apparatus 10 may include features addressed to this cross-flow. The
first side fairing 24 is located at the back of the trailer 12 in
the longitudinal direction 18 and is mounted onto or over the first
side surface 26 of the trailer 12. In a similar manner, the second
side fairing 28 is mounted on or over the second side surface 30 of
the trailer 12. The top fairing 14 is mounted on or over a portion
of the top surface 16 of the trailer 12. The fairings 14, 24, 28
are located closer to the back end 80 of the trailer 12 in the
longitudinal direction 18 than to the front of the trailer 12. In
some instances, the fairings 14, 24, 28 could extend to the back
end 80 of the trailer 12, and in yet other embodiments one or more
of the fairings 14, 24, 28 could extend rearward of the back end 80
of the trailer 12 up to 2 inches in the longitudinal direction 18.
The upper surfaces of the fairings 14, 24, 28 may have flat,
angled, or curved sections so that airflow over them will achieve
certain aerodynamic performance when the trailer 12 is driven. The
top fairing 14 extends across the entire width of the top surface
16 in the lateral direction 20, but the side fairings 24, 28 extend
along a majority of the height of the side surfaces 26, 30 in the
vertical direction 22 but not along the entire height of the side
surfaces 26, 30 in the vertical direction 22. The fairings 14, 24,
28 are structures that can be curved panels that attach at a
leading edge to the top surface 16 and side surfaces 26, 30 in such
a way that the fairings 14, 24, 28 curve or otherwise extend away
from the surface 16, 26, 30 in question and then curve or otherwise
extend back to the surface 16, 26, 30 in question. This extension
away from and then back to can be viewed in the forward to rearward
direction in the longitudinal direction 18.
The side fairings 24, 28 engage the top fairing 14. This engagement
may be along the entire lengths of the side fairings 24, 28 in the
longitudinal direction 18 or may be less than along their entire
lengths. There could be gaps in the engagement of the side fairings
24, 28 to the top fairing 14 along a portion of their lengths in
some instances. Further, there could be cases where one or two of
the fairings 14, 24, 28 are longer than the other one or two and in
these instances there would be longitudinal sections that are not
in engagement. Further, additional designs exist in which one of
the two side fairings 24, 28 does not engage the top fairing 14 at
all, but the other one of the two side fairings 24, 28 does in fact
engage the top fairing 14. The engagement between the side fairings
24, 28 and the top fairing 14 may be form a 90 degree bend, or
there could be convex surfaces between these components 14, 24, 28
that achieve a smoother transition at their engagement locations,
or a combination of various geometric designs can be present at the
points of engagement. Engagement of the top fairing 14 with at
least one of the side fairings 24, 28 achieves a desired
aerodynamic performance of the trailer 12 during normal use. The
fairings 14, 24, 28 can be mounted onto the surfaces 16, 26, 30
through the use of screws, bolts, adhesives, mechanical fasteners
or even through integral formation in some instances and may or may
not engage the surfaces 16, 26, 30.
Trailer skirts 32, 36 can be added to the apparatus 10 to work with
the fairings 14, 24, 28 in achieving aerodynamic performance of the
trailer 12. It has been discovered that the apparatus 10 having the
fairings 14, 24, 28 work particularly well with the addition of the
trailer skirts 32, 36 to the apparatus 10. The trailer skirts 32,
36 are located rearward of drive tires 44 of the tractor 42 in the
longitudinal direction 18 and are located at the bottom of the
trailer 12 and function to direct airflow at least partially from
the bogie assembly 40 of the trailer 12. The trailer skirts 32, 36
are panels that have surfaces that can be variously shaped that
direct airflow accordingly. The panels of the trailer skirts 32, 36
in FIGS. 1 and 2 are parallel to the side surfaces 26, 30 of the
trailer 12. In this regard, the trailer skirt 32 is closer to side
surface 26 than to side surface 30 and is parallel to side surface
26. In a similar vein, trailer skirt 36 is closer to side surface
30 than to side surface 26 and is parallel thereto. The trailer
skirts 32, 36 are located completely rearward of the drive tires 44
and completely forward of the bogie assembly 40 in the longitudinal
direction 18. However, in other embodiments, a portion of the
trailer skirts 32, 36 could extend to the bogie assembly 40 so that
they are not completely forward of the bogie assembly 40. The
trailer skirts 32, 36 can be connected or held onto the trailer 12
by any mechanism. For example, brackets 94 are present to bolt the
trailer skirts 32, 36 onto the underside of the trailer 12.
The first trailer skirt 32 has a rearward most point 48 in the
longitudinal direction 18 for redirecting airflow. Further, the
first trailer skirt 32 has a forward most point 50 for redirecting
airflow in the longitudinal direction 18. In evaluating the
parallel nature of the first trailer skirt 32 to the first side
surface 26, a first line 46 is drawn from the rearward most point
48 to the forward most point 50. The first side surface 26 is
parallel to the longitudinal direction 18 in that the trailer 12 is
box shaped and extends effectively in the longitudinal direction 18
regardless of whether the side surfaces 26, 30 are completely flat
or have grooves or other features thereon. One can compare the
angle the first line 46 makes to the line the first side surface 26
forms when viewed in the top view of FIG. 2 and ascertain that
these two lines 46, 26 are parallel.
The second trailer skirt 36 has a rearward most point 54 that is
the part of this component located most rearward in the
longitudinal direction 18 that functions to redirect air. Likewise,
the second trailer skirt 36 has a forward most point 56 for
directing airflow in the longitudinal direction 18. A second line
52 can be drawn from the rearward most point 54 to the forward most
point 56. The line that the second side surface 30 makes when
viewed from the top in FIG. 2 is observed to be parallel to the
second line 52. In this manner, the first and second trailer skirts
32, 36 can be said to be arranged in a parallel manner to the first
and second side surfaces 26 and 30 and the panels that direct
airflow are flat with no change in angular orientation. Although
the two trailer skirts 32, 36 are arranged in a similar manner to
one another, it is to be understood that in other versions of the
apparatus 10 that one of the trailer skirts 32 could for instance
be parallel to its side surface 26 while the other trailer skirt 36
is not parallel to its side surface 30.
Another configuration of the trailer skirts 32, 36 are illustrated
in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which a pair of skirts 32, 36 are again present
and are located completely between the drive tires 44 and the bogie
assembly 40 in the longitudinal direction 18. The panels making up
the skirts 32, 36 are again flat along their entire lengths. The
first trailer skirt 32 has a rearward most point 48 and a forward
most point 50 with the first line 46 drawn between and connecting
these points 48, 50 that matches the panel that directs airflow of
the first trailer skirt 32. However, the first line 46 is not
parallel to the line of the first side surface 26 as seen in the
top view of FIG. 4. Instead, the first line 46 is oriented at an
angle 34 to the first side surface 26. The angle 34 is 20 degrees.
In other embodiments, the angle 34 may be from 0 degrees (parallel)
up to and including 20 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle 34
is greater than 0 degrees up to and including 20 degrees. The angle
34 is measured in the direction of extension of the trailer skirt
32 forward in the longitudinal direction 18. The angle 34 is the
angle of the panel of the first trailer skirt 32 that directs air
to the first side surface 26 because this panel is the same as and
overlaps the first line 46. As such, the first line 46 is measured
in relation to the line created by the top view of the first side
surface 26 and the angle 34 between these two lines is measured.
Placement of the angle 34 in the 0-20 degree range allows for
complimentary aerodynamic performance of the skirt 32 used in
combinations with the fairings 10, 24, 28.
The second trailer skirt 36 has a second line 52 that is oriented
at an angle 38 to the line of the second side surface 30 when
viewed from the top in FIG. 4. This angle 38 is 20 degrees. In
other embodiments, the angle 38 may be from 0 (parallel) to 20
degrees. The angle 38 can be the same as angle 34, or these angles
38, 34 can be different from one another in relation to the trailer
12 so that the skirts 32, 36 are not oriented at the same magnitude
of angularity to their respective side surfaces 26, 30. The angle
38 is again measured by looking at the direction of extension of
the second trailer skirt 36 forward in the longitudinal direction
18. The direction of extension of the second line 52 is noted upon
moving forward in the longitudinal direction 18 from the rearward
most point 54 to the forward most point 56. This second line 52 is
compared to the line created by the second side surface 30 upon
viewing it from above in FIG. 4 and the angle 38 is measured as the
orientation between these two lines. The skirts 32, 36 are arranged
so that they extend constantly inboard in the lateral direction 20
upon extension forward in the longitudinal direction 18. In this
regard, at no point do the skirts 32, 36 extend outboard in the
lateral direction 20, but instead only in the inboard direction as
observed in the forward longitudinal direction 18.
Another version of the first and second trailer skirts 32, 36 is
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Unlike previous versions, the panels that
make up the trailer skirts 32, 36 do not have flat surfaces across
their entire lengths that direct the airflow. Instead, the skirts
32, 36 have sections that are oriented at different angles to one
another and at different angles to the trailer 12. Although four
such sections that change the angular orientation of the skirts 32,
36 are shown, fewer or more may be present. However, the panels
that direct airflow still have a rearward most point 48, 54 and a
forward most point 50, 56. The first and second lines 46, 52 are
drawn through these points 48, 54, 50, 56 as previously discussed
and the angles 34, 38 are calculated also as previously discussed.
The panels making up the airflow surfaces of the skirts 32, 36 do
not lie completely on these lines 46, 52 as in other embodiments
but are for the most part out of sync with the lines 46, 52. A
majority may be inboard of the lines 46, 52 in the lateral
direction 20 in some embodiments, and in other embodiments a
majority may be outboard of the lines 46, 52. As with other
embodiments, the surfaces that direct airflow need not be flat, but
could be curved and could have grooves or other features. The
skirts 32, 36 could change their direction of orientation so that
they are moving either inboard or outboard in the lateral direction
20 at different points. However, the lines 46, 52 still have a
single angle 34, 38 for measurement even if localized portions of
the skirts 32, 36 are oriented at different angles from one another
and from that of the lines 46, 52.
FIG. 8 shows a back view of the trailer 12 with attached apparatus
10. The top fairing 14 has an upper terminal point 58 that is the
highest point of the top fairing 14 in the vertical direction 22.
There may be a single upper terminal point 58 on the top fairing
14, or there may be multiple locations where the upper terminal
point 58 is located. The height 60 of the top fairing 14 is
measured from the top surface 16 of the trailer 12, at the same
location at the upper terminal point 58 in the lateral direction
20, to the upper terminal point 58 in the vertical direction 22.
The top surface 16 is a panel that covers the cargo area of the
trailer. The top surface 16 near the back end 80 may have a a rain
gutter located thereon which would be an indentation on the top
surface 16 that extends downward in the vertical direction 22.
Other structural elements could be present at or on the top surface
16 near the back end. When describing the heights of the top
fairings 14 and discussion of the associated top surfaces 16, it is
to be understood that the heights are measured from the panel
section of the top surface 16 and not from the rain gutters or
other structural elements at or on the top surface 16. The side
fairing 24 has an outer terminal point 62 located on its outer
surface which is the portion of the side faring 24 farthest from
the center of the trailer 12 in the lateral direction 20. There may
be a single point on the outer surface of the side fairing 24 that
is farthest and thus a single outer terminal point 62, or there may
be multiple locations along the side fairing 24 that are farthest
and thus a plurality of outer terminal points 62 are present. The
width 64 of the side fairing 24 may be measured from the side
surface 26, that is as the same vertical location as the outer
terminal point 62 in the vertical direction 22, to the outer
terminal point 62 in the lateral direction 20. The magnitude of the
height 60 is greater than the magnitude of the width 64 in
accordance with some exemplary embodiments. In a similar vein, the
second side fairing 28 has a width 68 that is measured from the
second side surface 30, that is at the same location in the
vertical direction 22, to an outer terminal point 66 in the lateral
direction 20. The outer terminal point 66 is the point of the outer
surface of the second side fairing 28 that is farthest from the
center of the trailer 12 in the lateral direction 20. The magnitude
of the width 66 is less than the magnitude of the height 60 in
accordance with some exemplary embodiments. In some instances, the
magnitudes of the widths 64 and 68 are the same.
FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment in which the trailer 12 does
not have flat side surfaces 26, 30 or a flat top surface 16 at
least at locations onto which the apparatus 10 is mounted. The
surfaces 26, 30, 16 could be grooved or have different areas of
height/width. The area 70 of the top surface 16 engaged or covered
by the top fairing 14 has a width 72 that extends in the lateral
direction 20. The top fairing 14 extends into the grooves present
on the top surface 16 so as to fill them in, but in other
arrangements the grooves could be completely or partially empty. A
highest location 96 of the top surface 16 is the location of the
top surface 16 that is highest in the vertical direction 22. There
may be a single highest location 96, or there may be multiple
highest locations 96 along the width 72 of the area 70. The height
60 is measured from the highest location 96 to the upper terminal
point 58 of the outer surface of the fairing 14 in the vertical
direction 22. The side fairing 24 can be arranged in a similar
manner in which an area 74 of the first side surface 26 has
different inboard and outboard locations in the lateral direction
20 along an entire height 76 of the area 74. The entire height 76
is the height in the vertical direction 22 that the side fairing 24
engages or covers when the apparatus 10 is attached. One or more
locations of the side surface 26 can have a maximum outboard
location 98 in the lateral direction 20, and a most outboard
location 98 is located on these one or more points of the side
surface 26. In FIG. 9, the most outboard location 98 also has the
same positioning in the vertical direction 22. The width 64 is
measured from the most outboard location 98 to the outer terminal
point 62 in the lateral direction 20. The magnitude of the height
60 may be greater than the magnitude of the width 64.
Also, the second side faring 28 can have a second side surface 30
that is not flat but instead features grooves or other depressions
cut therein. The second side fairing 28 may cover or be inserted
into some or all of the grooves on the second side surface 30 and
includes an outer terminal point 66 which is the point of the
second side faring 28 that is farthest from the center of the
trailer 12 in the lateral direction 20. There may be a single outer
terminal point 66, or multiple locations of the second side fairing
28 may include an outer terminal point 66. In a similar manner, the
second side surface 30 may have a single or a plurality of maximum
outboard locations 100 which are the portions of the second side
surface 30 farthest from the center of the trailer 12 in the
lateral direction 20. The outer terminal point 66 and the maximum
outboard location 100 are at the same height in the vertical
direction 22. The width 66 is measured from the outer terminal
point 66 to the maximum outboard location 100 in the lateral
direction. The magnitude of the width 66 is less than the magnitude
of the height 60. In some instances, the magnitude of the width 66
is the same as the magnitude of the width 64.
An additional feature of the apparatus 10 may be shown with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a first trailer rear skirt 78
and a second trailer rear skirt 82 are present on the underside of
the trailer 12. The rear skirts 78, 82 have panels that direct
airflow to achieve a desired aerodynamic performance of the trailer
12 when driven. The rear skirts 78, 82 can work in combination with
the first and second trailer skirts 32, 36 or in some embodiments,
the apparatus 10 may only include the fairings 14, 24 and/or 28 and
the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 and not the first and second trailer
skirts 32, 36. The rear trailer skirts 78, 82 are located rearward
of the first and second trailer skirts 32, 36 (if present) in the
longitudinal direction 18 and in some instances may be located
completely rearward of the bogie assembly 40 in the longitudinal
direction 18. In other instances, the rear trailer skirts 78, 82
are not completely behind the bogie assembly 40 but instead at
least partially cover the bogie assembly 40 so that at least a
portion of the bogie assembly 40 is located at the same position in
the longitudinal direction 18 as portions of the first and second
rear trailer skirts 32, 36. However, regardless of the positioning
of the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 it may be the case that enough
space is provided for accessing the bogie assembly 40 to allow for
tire and wheel change. The bogie assembly 40 may be capable of
sliding forward and rearward in the longitudinal direction 18 so
this may effect relative placement between these components 40, 78
and 82 as well. Also, providing enough access to the bogie assembly
40 when rear skirts 78, 82 are present may require one to take into
account the positioning of the forward trailer skirts 32, 36 as
well.
The rear trailer skirts 78, 82 may not extend to the back end 80 of
the trailer 12 in the longitudinal direction 18. Instead, the rear
trailer skirts 78, 82 may extend may stop short of the back end 80
at least 0.5 meters from the back end 80 in the longitudinal
direction so that a space that is at least 0.5 meters exists from
the back end 80 to the rearward longitudinal points of the first
and second trailer rear skirts 78, 82 in the longitudinal direction
18. The rear trailer skirts 78, 82 may be attached to the bottom of
the trailer 12 via brackets 94 and can extend in the vertical
direction 20 towards the ground 92 stopping short to allow
sufficient clearance thereto. The embodiments in FIGS. 1-4 all have
2 rear trailer skirts 78, 82 but a single one of the rear trailer
skirts 78 or 82 could be present in other embodiments. In still
further versions, the first rear trailer skirt 78 is configured
differently than the second rear trailer skirt 82. In the FIGS. 5
and 6 embodiment of the apparatus 10, the rear trailer skirts 78,
82 are not present and instead only the fairings 24, 28, 14 and the
forward trailer skirts 32, 36 are present in the apparatus 10. The
panels that make up the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 could be
configured in the same manners as previously discussed with respect
to the forward trailer skirts 32, 36 (for example the air directing
panels are parallel to the first and second side surfaces 26, 30)
and a repeat of this information is not necessary. In some
instances, there may be a small angle associated with the rear
trailer skirts 32, 36. This small angle may be an inward
displacement at the rear 1/3 of the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 in
the longitudinal direction 18. The amount of the displacement can
be less than 3 inches inboard in the lateral direction 20. With
respect to lateral placement of the rear trailer skirts 78, 82,
they may be positioned not more than 2 inches inside of their
respective side surfaces 26, 30 in the lateral direction 20. In
other embodiments, the panels of the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 or
portions thereof sit outside of the side surfaces 26, 30 by up to 2
inches. The bracket 94 may be bifurcated to allow such placement.
In some embodiments, the rear trailer skirts 78, 82 are parallel
allowing for variation in from the side surfaces 26, 30 by 2 inches
for the front 2/3 of the skirts 78, 82 in the longitudinal
direction 18, and 4 inches from the side surfaces 26, 30 at the
back edges of the skirts 78, 82 in the longitudinal direction 18.
The lower extent of the trailer 12 can be tapered up to reduce the
changes of impact with the ground 92 caused by the departure
angle.
With reference back to FIG. 9, the intersection of the top fairing
14 with the side fairings 24, 28 includes two sharp 90 degree
corners 84 at their intersection. In some embodiments, the corner
84 can be rounded and configured to adjust aerodynamic performance
A rounded corner 84 may achieve desired aerodynamic performance in
relation to cross-winds imparted onto the trailer 12 through
normal, forward use of the trailer 12 in the longitudinal direction
18. This reduction in drag from cross-winds may increase the fuel
efficiency of the tractor 42 trailer 12 vehicle. FIG. 8 shows the
corners 84 at the fairing 14, 24, 28 intersections being rounded
instead of having a sharp edge. Both corners 84 can be configured
to have the same size, shape, and features, or they may be
different in different embodiments, especially when the first side
fairing 24 is not the same as the second side fairing 28. The
corners 84 can be described as being portions of the side fairings
24 and 28, can be portions of the top fairing 14, can be portions
of all of the fairings 14, 24, 28, or may be separate components
from the fairings 14, 24 and 28. However, the corner 84 should be
configured so that at least some portion of the intersection of the
top fairing 14 and the side faring 24 (and 28 in some embodiments)
is continuous. The entire intersection between the fairings 14, 24,
28 need not be continuous in other versions.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a corner 84 that is present on the
right hand side of the trailer 12 and is at the intersection of the
second side fairing 28 and the top fairing 14. The corner 84 of
FIG. 7 could be the one shown in the FIG. 8 embodiment, or the one
shown in other presently disclosed embodiments. The corner 109 at
the left hand side of the trailer 12 which is at the intersection
of the top fairing 14 and the first side fairing 24 could be made
in a similar manner and a repeat of this information is not
necessary. In FIG. 7, the leading section 86 of the corner 84 is
located at the forward most point of the corner 84 in the
longitudinal direction 18. The tailing section 90 of the corner 84
in the longitudinal direction 18 is located at the rearward most
position of the corner 84. In between these sections 86, 90 the
middle section 88 of the corner 84 is located in the longitudinal
direction 18. The corner 84 has a convex outer surface at all
points from the leading section 86 to the tailing section 90.
However, in other embodiments some portion of the corner 84 need
not be convex but could be flat, angled, or concave in shape. The
shape of the corner 84 is driven by the size and shape of the
meeting fairing 14, 28 surfaces that converge at the corner 84. The
radius of curvature of the surface at the leading section 86 may be
the same as the radius of curvature of the surface at the tailing
section 90, and these two radii of curvature may each be less than
the radius of curvature of the surface of the corner 84 at the
middle section 88. In some instances, the radius of curvature at
the leading section 86 is 0.2 inches, the radius of curvature at
the middle section is 5.0 inches, and the radius of curvature at
the tailing section 90 is 0.2 inches.
The apparatus 10 may thus include the top fairing 14 and at least
one side fairing 24 or 28, and in other embodiments may include the
other side fairing 24 or 28, one or both of the forward trailer
skirts 32, 36, and/or one or both of the trailer rear skirts 78,
82. The components of the apparatus 10 can be made so that they do
not have any moving parts during standard, forward driving use of
the trailer 12. The apparatus 10 can be constructed so that it does
not interfere with opening of the door at the back end 80. The
apparatus 10 may improve fuel savings of the trailer 12 when used.
The apparatus 10 can be arranged so that the tires of the bogie
assembly 40 are not always covered and are observable due to a
break in skirting in the longitudinal direction 18.
With reference back to FIG. 1 a channel 102 is located on the side
surface 26 and extends in the longitudinal direction 18. There
could be several channels on the side surface 26 on other trailers
12, and they may be present for a number of reasons, such as for
example increasing the rigidity of the side surface 26. The channel
102 is shown as extending the entire length of the side surface 26
in the longitudinal direction 18, but may extend for only a portion
of the longitudinal length in other instances. The channel 102 is
located proximate to the top surface 16 and just below it in the
vertical direction 22 and extends under the corner 84. Air flow
through the channel 102 under the corner 84 will exit behind the
corner 84 and fairings 14, 24 and may disrupt the air flow pattern
behind the trailer 12. This disruption may not be desirable. FIGS.
10 and 11 demonstrate an alternate embodiment in which the corner
84 is provided with an air blocking tab 104 that is sized and
shaped to be inserted into the channel 102. The corner 84 on the
first side surface 26 at the top fairing 14 and the first side
fairing 24 is identified as corner 105. The air blocking tab 104
extends from an inner surface 106 of the corner 105. The inner
surface 106 is the side of the corner 105 opposite from the outer
surface 109. The air blocking tab 104 may be square shaped and may
be 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches with a relatively thin thickness. The
air blocking tab 104 prevents air from flowing through the channel
102 between the trailer 12 and the corner 105 to behind the trailer
12 and disrupting an air flow pattern at that location. The air
blocking tab 104 may be provided so that it completely fills in the
channel 102 so that all air flow through the channel 102 is blocked
at this location.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an air blocking tab 104 on the second
corner 84. The second corner 84 is the corner 84 located on the
second side surface 30 that is at the top fairing 14 and the second
side fairing 28. The second corner 84 has an outer surface 112 and
an oppositely disposed inner surface 110 that is concave in shape.
The air blocking tab 104 has a relatively thin thickness when
compared to the length of the corner 84 in the longitudinal
direction 18. The height of the air blocking tab 104 is less than
the height of the corner 84 in the vertical direction 22. The air
blocking tab 104 may be positioned so that it is not at the highest
or lowest vertical locations of the corner 84 in the vertical
direction 22. The air blocking tab 104 is not located at the
forward or rearward ends of the corner 84 but is instead located at
some point between them in the longitudinal direction 18. The air
blocking tab 104 extends inboard in the lateral direction 20 so
that it may be located farther inboard in the lateral direction 20
than any other portion of the corner 84.
The air blocking tab 104 could be integrally formed with the corner
84, or may be a separate piece that is attached thereto. A
structural support tab 108 is present and engages both the air
blocking tab 104 and the inner surface 110 and provides structural
support to the air blocking tab 104 to prevent or minimize
deflection when air pushes against it during transport of the
trailer 12. The structural support tab 108 is located rearward of
the air blocking tab 104 in the longitudinal direction 18. When
elements 104 and 108 are provided as plates, the structural support
tab 108 is oriented at a ninety degree angle to the air blocking
tab 104. Although described as only filling a portion of the
channel 102, the air blocking tab 104 could in other embodiments
fill the entire channel 102. The air blocking tab 104 is contained
to the corner 84 and is not part of the side fairing 28 or the top
fairing 14. However, in other embodiments, the side fairings 24, 28
and top fairing 14 could in fact have their own air blocking
members should there be a channel in the trailer surfaces 16, 26,
30 that would allow air to flow under the fairings 14, 24, 28.
The air blocking tab 104 was described with the first corner 105 in
FIGS. 10 and 11, and with the second corner 84 with reference to
FIGS. 12 and 13. It is to be understood that any of the description
related to the air blocking tab 104 with the first corner 105 could
be applied to the air blocking tab 104 of the second corner 84.
Likewise, any of the description of the air blocking tab 104 with
the second corner 84 could be applied to the air blocking tab 104
of the first corner 105, thus making the description of the air
blocking tab 104 and structural support tab 108 interchangeable
between the two corners 84, 105. When both corners 84, 105 are
present in the apparatus 10, they may both be provided with the air
blocking tab 104, or only one of them may have the air blocking tab
104. Further, the configuration of the air blocking tabs 104 need
not be identical between the first corner 105 and the second corner
84.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with
respect to specific embodiments and methods thereof, it will be
appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an
understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to,
variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly,
the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather
than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not
preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or
additions to the present subject matter as would be apparent.
* * * * *